A 6-month-old infant is brought for catch-up vaccination. The child has received BCG and OPV at birth but no other vaccines. According to IAP guidelines, which of the following combinations can be safely administered at the same visit?

• A Pentavalent vaccine, IPV, and JE live vaccine simultaneously
• B Pentavalent vaccine, IPV, and MR vaccine simultaneously
• C Pentavalent vaccine, IPV, rotavirus vaccine, and PCV simultaneously ✓
• D Only inactivated vaccines can be given together; live vaccines must be separated

Explanation

Multiple vaccines can be safely administered at the same visit without interference with immune response. Inactivated vaccines (pentavalent, IPV, PCV, rotavirus) can be given simultaneously at different sites. Live injected vaccines (MR, JE, varicella) not given on the same day must be separated by at least 4 weeks, but inactivated and live vaccines can be given together. Option C correctly lists inactivated vaccines that can be co-administered. Option B is wrong because MR is a live vaccine and should ideally not be given with other live vaccines, though it can be given with inactivated ones. Option A has the same issue with JE live vaccine.

Reference: Katzung Basic and Clinical Pharmacology / IAP Guidelines, 15th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.